918 Spyder is Porsche’s First Ever Plug In Hybrid Electric Car

http://www.inhabitat.com/2010/03/02/918-spyder-is-porsches-first-ever-plug-in-hybrid-electric-car/

Inhabitat
918 Spyder is Porsche’s First Ever Plug In Hybrid Electric Car
by Yuka Yoneda, 03/02/10

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Photos via Autoblog

Porsche recently blew everyone at the Geneva Auto Show out of the water with their freshly unveiled electric concept car – their first plug-in hybrid ever. Dubbed the 918 Spyder, this stealthy-looking ride is a parallel hybrid just like the Prius – well, except much, much sexier. It also supposedly gets 78 miles per gallon, has emissions of 70g CO2/km, can go 16 miles on electric charge alone, and does 0-60 in just 3.2 seconds. Oh and did we mention that it’s drop-dead gorgeous too?



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The mid-engined two seater is powered by both a 500-horsepower V8 and two electric motors that produce an additional 218 horsepower. According to Porsche, the 918 Spyder also has four different modes of power delivery:

“A button on the steering wheel allows the driver to choose among four different running modes: The E-Drive mode is for running the car under electric power alone, with a range of up to 25 km or 16 miles. In the Hybrid mode, the 918 Spyder uses both the electric motors and the combustion engine as a function of driving conditions and requirements, offering a range from particularly fuel-efficient all the way to extra-powerful.”

While the 918 Spyder is still a concept, the fact that Porsche is considering releasing a plug-in hybrid is a pretty big deal. Plus, as Brian Merchant of Treehugger points out, the car company has never made a concept car that it didn’t later bring into production. We definitely think Porsche is bringing the sexy back into green with the 918 and hope to see it in the showrooms soon.